robert_selth's profile

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Sunday, June 12th, 2022

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Release year failing to automatically update

For the movie Splash, the title's main release year is currently displayed as 1984. However, the earliest release date given in the Release Dates section is 18 November 1983. The release year has evidently failed to automatically update, and is still displaying "Splash (1984)" when it should be "Splash (1983)".

I have kept an eye on this for the past month, since I noticed it, and it has stayed this way for that whole time; so this is not just a case of a recent change taking the normal short while to update!

Edit: Link to the title below

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088161/?ref_=ttrel_rel_tt

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4 years ago

That date should be deleted as it doesn't look like an eligible public valid date in the first place. I doubt any evidence was even provided while adding it (which seems a recent addition)

I could only find a mention from Nov 1983 on an article from LA Times and it clearly talks about a "private event" only for "theatre owners"

(edited)

Employee

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3 years ago

Hi robert_selth & mbmb -

I can see that the November 18, 1993 Sneak preview screening was approved based on this article evidence from The Chicago Tribune:

As this appears to be a public sneak preview event, we will need to retain the release date. 

Cheers!

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@Michelle​ Amazing, thanks so much for clearing that up! I can see that the main release year has updated to 1983 as well - all sorted :D

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@Michelle​ Thanks for looking into that and for the source. I see why I couldn't find that now since that ad poster does not have any name on it :)

It still doesn't feel right to me to change the title year of such a well known movie from its actual release based on that preview ad tbh. There is no info on that ad to get to know the nature of the screening, not even a name, and having zero coverage or press mention before or after doesn't help to get an idea (a Disney movie with big names, even that "theater owners only" event has coverage), it's really questionable to me to consider that a release, especially when Giancarlo Cairella has a comment like this:

We do not consider preview screenings (what are usually called 'sneak previews' in the US) or select advance screening dates (i.e. those events where people can go see a film a week or two before the opening, usually after picking up a screening invite in a magazine or in a store or some other form or promotion). The purpose of these screenings is to build positive word-of-mouth in advance of the film's wide release, and are sometimes held so that members of the press can watch the film for review purposes in advance of the actual opening weekend with an actual audience in attendance.

I think all the big studios are having these test/sneak/advance screenings for their films after all. I had the impression these are not really considered a release.

(edited)

Employee

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@mbmb​ I would say the difference here is this is an advertised public premiere; it's not a private studio test screening nor a typical sneak preview. 

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I don't think it's a real sneak preview, because the audience already knows a thing or two about the film. Although I must admit, the title isn't mentioned in the ad. That said, I assume it might have been possible for people to find out which movie it was.

I think the (sneak preview) attribute should not remain attached to this particular release date. It might create confusion because real sneak previews are not allowed. Apart from that, strictly speaking, I don't think this was a proper sneak preview.